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Real College Education

As I run into new high school graduates and hear them talk about their college plans, I can’t help but to think back to my college graduation date ten years ago.

Then, and still now, it seems I was just graduating from high school and filled with excitement about college. What I didn’t know when I started college, and then when I graduated four years later, was how much I would learn about life outside of the classroom:

1. The different people are the cool people.

2. Extracurricular activities might actually detract from one’s social life.

3. Real friends follow you into the men’s restroom, hold your hair back to ensure clean puking, and tell off the guys who dare to make any snide comments. (Thanks, Holly!)

4. If you embarass yourself at a party, it’s OK. No one will recognize you in class on Monday morning if you wear no makeup, a baseball cap, and baggy clothes.

5. You really can live off of Mountain Dew, Pop Tarts, and Ramen.

6. Quarters are like gold.

7. One all nighter can make up for a week’s worth of procrastinating.

8. They call it 151 for a reason.

9. The best nights are those when you never planned to go out and have a blast.

10. Get along with the neighbors, but beware when they come knocking on your door at 3:00 a.m. (Tip: Make them mac and cheese and pop in a movie to distract them.)

Of course, I learned many more lessons from college, but I can’t give you new high school grads all of the secrets. Part of the fun is figuring it out on your own!